Rulenge-Ngara (Diocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Severine Niwemugizi, Bishop

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese
Name Changed: 14 August 2008
Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Mwanza
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: Tanzania, United Republic of
Square Kilometers: 13,004 (5,022 Square Miles)
Official Web Site: http://www.diocese-rulenge-ngara.net/
Mailing Address: Bishop's House, P.O. Box 135, Ngara, Tanzania
Telephone: (028)222.61.55
Fax: (same)

Historical Details

Vicariate Apostolic of Bukoba
- Latin Name: de Bukoba
- Erected: 8 April 1929
- Vicariate
- Country: Tanzania, United Republic of
- Square Kilometers: 27,230 (10,517 Square Miles)
Diocese of Bukoba
- Latin Name: Bukobaensis
- Elevated: 25 March 1953
- Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Tabora
- Country: Tanzania, United Republic of
Diocese of Rulenge
- Latin Name: Rulengensis
- Name Changed: 21 June 1960
- Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Mwanza
- Country: Tanzania, United Republic of

Past and Present Ordinaries

Burkhard Huwiler, M. Afr. † (18 Mar 1929 Appointed - 20 Mar 1946 Resigned)
Laurent Tétrault, M. Afr. † (13 Nov 1947 Appointed - 14 Mar 1951 Died)
Alfred Lanctôt, M. Afr. † (13 Dec 1951 Appointed - 30 May 1969 Died)
Christopher Mwoleka † (26 Jun 1969 Appointed - 8 Nov 1996 Resigned)
Severine Niwemugizi (8 Nov 1996 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Vicariate Apostolic of Bukoba
8 April 1929	Erected	Vicariate Apostolic of Tabora (Part of Uha that is East and North of Malagarazi river) Vicariate Apostolic of Urundi (Bugufi) Vicariate Apostolic of Victoria-Nyanza (Civil province of Bukoba)	Vicariate Apostolic of Bukoba (erected)
18 July 1932	Territory Lost	Vicariate Apostolic of Bukoba Vicariate Apostolic of Tabora	Vicariate Apostolic of Tanganyika (Kibondo)
13 December 1951	Territory Lost	Vicariate Apostolic of Bukoba (Kisïba, Missenyi, and part of Kiymia)	Vicariate Apostolic of Kagera Inferiore (erected)
Diocese of Bukoba
25 March 1953	Elevated	Vicariate Apostolic of Bukoba	Diocese of Bukoba
12 December 1955	Territory Lost	Diocese of Bukoba (Usambiro)	Archdiocese of Tabora
21 June 1960	Territory Lost	Diocese of Bukoba (Other part of the district of Bukoba)	Diocese of Rutabo
Diocese of Rulenge
21 June 1960	Name Changed	Diocese of Bukoba	Diocese of Rulenge
18 November 1987	Metropolitan Changed		Diocese of Rulenge (from Tabora)
14 August 2008	Territory Lost	Diocese of Rulenge (Karagwe)	Diocese of Kayanga (erected)
Diocese of Rulenge-Ngara
14 August 2008	Name Changed	Diocese of Rulenge	Diocese of Rulenge-Ngara

Year Catholics Total Population Percent Catholic Diocesan Priests Religious Priests Total Priests Catholics Per Priest Permanent Deacons Male Religious Female Religious Parishes Source

Vicariate Apostolic of Bukoba

1950 111,581 523,903 21.3% 25 45 70 1,594 13 97 17 ap1951

Diocese of Bukoba

1957 96,631 421,918 22.9% 12 61 73 1,323 11 107 16 ap1960

Diocese of Rulenge

1970 105,271 274,914 38.3% 14 29 43 2,448 37 38 14 ap1971

1980 148,539 458,423 32.4% 27 20 47 3,160 27 138 15 ap1981

1990 192,825 559,025 34.5% 42 10 52 3,708 20 206 15 ap1991

1999 494,884 925,200 53.5% 59 5 64 7,732 11 227 20 ap2000

2000 504,500 871,436 57.9% 57 5 62 8,137 11 189 20 ap2001

2001 533,006 871,436 61.2% 58 6 64 8,328 13 193 23 ap2002

2002 549,783 894,963 61.4% 54 5 59 9,318 12 186 25 ap2003

2003 564,378 939,833 60.1% 54 4 58 9,730 10 161 25 ap2004

2004 595,773 1,171,209 50.9% 56 3 59 10,097 9 146 25 ap2005

Diocese of Rulenge-Ngara

2008 344,054 767,359 44.8% 46 2 48 7,167 4 164 15 bul14Aug08

2010 168,921 835,000 20.2% 39 2 41 4,120 8 303 15 ap2011

2014 196,000 942,000 20.8% 43 2 45 4,355 9 151 19 ap2015

2017 343,053 1,052,000 32.6% 47 2 49 7,001 8 158 20 ap2018

2020 388,713 1,066,490 36.4% 51 2 53 7,334 8 280 27 ap2021

2022 408,093 1,280,950 31.9% 56 2 58 7,036 8 301 29 ap2023

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
Vicariate Apostolic of Bukoba
1950	111,581	523,903	21.3%	25	45	70	1,594	13	97	17	ap1951
Diocese of Bukoba
1957	96,631	421,918	22.9%	12	61	73	1,323	11	107	16	ap1960
Diocese of Rulenge
1970	105,271	274,914	38.3%	14	29	43	2,448	37	38	14	ap1971
1980	148,539	458,423	32.4%	27	20	47	3,160	27	138	15	ap1981
1990	192,825	559,025	34.5%	42	10	52	3,708	20	206	15	ap1991
1999	494,884	925,200	53.5%	59	5	64	7,732	11	227	20	ap2000
2000	504,500	871,436	57.9%	57	5	62	8,137	11	189	20	ap2001
2001	533,006	871,436	61.2%	58	6	64	8,328	13	193	23	ap2002
2002	549,783	894,963	61.4%	54	5	59	9,318	12	186	25	ap2003
2003	564,378	939,833	60.1%	54	4	58	9,730	10	161	25	ap2004
2004	595,773	1,171,209	50.9%	56	3	59	10,097	9	146	25	ap2005
Diocese of Rulenge-Ngara
2008	344,054	767,359	44.8%	46	2	48	7,167	4	164	15	bul14Aug08
2010	168,921	835,000	20.2%	39	2	41	4,120	8	303	15	ap2011
2014	196,000	942,000	20.8%	43	2	45	4,355	9	151	19	ap2015
2017	343,053	1,052,000	32.6%	47	2	49	7,001	8	158	20	ap2018
2020	388,713	1,066,490	36.4%	51	2	53	7,334	8	280	27	ap2021
2022	408,093	1,280,950	31.9%	56	2	58	7,036	8	301	29	ap2023

Note: Any changes in boundaries over time are not indicated in the above table.

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

Burkhard Huwiler, M. Afr. † (Vicar Apostolic: 18 Mar 1929 to 20 Mar 1946)
Alfred Lanctôt, M. Afr. † (Vicar Apostolic: 13 Dec 1951; Bishop: 25 Mar 1953 to 30 May 1969)
Christopher Mwoleka † (Auxiliary Bishop: 6 Mar 1969; Bishop: 26 Jun 1969 to 8 Nov 1996)
Placidus Gervasius Nkalanga, O.S.B. † (Priest: 15 Jul 1950 to 18 Apr 1961)
Laurean Rugambwa † (Priest: 12 Dec 1943 to 13 Dec 1951)
Laurent Tétrault, M. Afr. † (Vicar Apostolic: 13 Nov 1947 to 14 Mar 1951)

Source(s)

Vicariate Apostolic of Bukoba
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 21, Page 622, and Page 623
Diocese of Bukoba
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 45, Page 705, to Page 710
Diocese of Rulenge
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 52, Page 912
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 80, Page 354, and Page 355
Diocese of Rulenge-Ngara
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 100, Page 647

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Diocese of Rulenge-Ngara

Dioecesis Rulengensis-Ngarensis